Shawn Langdon will return to the CMR Construction and Roofing Toyota Top Fuel dragster for this weekend’s Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals with one goal on his agenda, adding another North Carolina four-wide win to his record. The 2019 Funny Car four-wide winner earned his first career Funny Car title with his first win the fan-favorite format. This weekend he will be looking to build on the momentum of a quarterfinal finish at the NHRA SpringNationals that features a wild first round pedalfest win.
As the No. 10 qualifier Langdon knew he would need to have a total package, quickest reaction time and solid elapsed time, to get the upset win over his opponent. Langdon was up to the task getting a significant jump off the starting line before his Goodyear’s overpowered the track. He was able to pedal his DHL dragster and power down the track for the win with his parachute prematurely blossoming behind him. It was a dramatic round win that advanced his to the quarterfinals.
“That first round win was big for us,” said Langdon. “We just need to build some momentum and get a little bit of luck on our side. I am looking forward to heading to Charlotte for the four-wide nationals. That race you can make a mistake or have something go wrong and still advance. Our goal will be to make four quick runs in qualifying and then get three win lights on Sunday.”
Langdon raced to a runner-up finish at the Circle K Four-Wide Nationals in 2014. A Top Fuel win this weekend would make him the only winner of both nitro categories at the Bellagio of Drag Strips.
“It would be cool to be the only driver with a Top Fuel and Funny Car win at zMax Dragway,” said Langdon. “A bigger deal would be getting a win for CMR Construction and Roofing. Steve and Chandra Soule and everyone on the CMR team has been super supportive. This team has been working hard and I think we figured a few things out that will help us in Charlotte this weekend.”
Earlier this season at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals Langdon advanced to the second quad from the bottom half of the field before narrowly missing a chance to race in the final quad. The veteran driver who also has world championships in the Lucas Oil ranks thinks that his time behind the wheel racing Super Comp helps keep him sharp for events like four-wide racing.
“Any time you are getting time taking the Christmas Tree in competition you should be getting better,” said Langdon. “I do think racing in Super Comp makes me a better Top Fuel racer. The competition is tough in both classes but the margin for error on the starting line is razor thin in my Super Comp dragster. I am hoping to be at the top of my game this weekend and I know this CMR Construction and Roofing dragster will be ready to go.”
2021 NHRA Circle K Four-Wide Nationals Highlights: Qual. No. 11; Lost to Antron Brown and Krista Baldwin
Last Event Recap (2022 SpringNationals): Qual 10; Beat Leah Pruett; Lost to Brittany Force
Career Stats: 292 events, 288 starts, 312 round wins, 17 wins, 35 finals, 19 No. 1 qualifiers; in Top Fuel: 244 events, 240 starts, 15 wins, 32 finals, 273 round wins, 19 No. 1 qualifiers
2022 Results
Winternationals: Qual 8; Lost to Josh Hart
Arizona Nationals: Qual 7; Beat Antron Brown; Lost to Mike Salinas
Gatornationals: Qual 21; DNQ
Las Vegas1: Qual 11; Beat Doug Kalitta and Rob Passey; Lost to Steve Torrence and Brittany Force
Houston: Qual 10; Beat Leah Pruett; Lost to Brittany Force
Kalitta Motorsports PR
